NSW Nordic Ski Club
Kiandra to Kosciusko
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Written by Graeme Handley who was involved with the 1977 crossing for the Canberra Cross Country Ski Club. The photograph is from the 1928 Australian Ski Yearbook which which is held in the National Library. Story courtesy of KCROS website.
Skiing had its beginnings in Australia in the mid 1800's when the Ski Club of Kiandra was established in the small mining town of Kiandra at the northern end of the area generally known as the Snowy Mountains. In the early 1920's members of the Ski Club of Australia located at the southern end of the mountains began to speculate about what lay between these two centres of skiing in Australia, and after some exploratory trips in the mid '20's, planned to cross the mountains on skis in the winter of 1927.
On 28 July 1927 a party comprising Drs. Herbert Schlink, Eric Fisher, John Laidley and Mr. William Gordon from the Ski Club of Australia together with a representative of the Ski Club of Kiandra, Mr. William Hughes set out from Kiandra for the Hotel Kosciusko (Now Sponar's Chalet on the Kosciukso Rd-eds). On the fist day they skied from Kiandra to Farm Ridge Hut via the Nine Mile Diggings and Boobee huts, a journey involving a waist deep crossing of the Happy Jacks River.
After topping up with supplies left there the previous summer, they set out the following morning for Jagungal Saddle, past the Bulls Peaks to the Tin Hut. Sensing that they were past the worst and in familiar territory, they discarded their sleeping bags and extra weight in the form of food etc at the Tin Hut and made a dash for Pounds Creek Hut (now Illawong Hut-eds).
However, they hadn't counted on the weather and were enveloped in fog. Unable to see the major landmarks they were forced to feel their way to Consett Stephen Pass then into the Guthega River which would lead them to the Snowy River and the hut. One mistake and they were out for the night. Fortunately they got it right and found the Snowy River frozen over, thus avoiding another cold river crossing. With the aid of a stiff whisky, they made their way the last quarter mile to Pounds Creek Hut where they slept until 11 the next morning.
They found the last leg of the journey to the Hotel Kosciusko a doddle and arrived back to the adulation of friends and hotel guests. Herbert Schlink's chronicle of the journey can be found in the 1928 Australian Ski Yearbook and is reproduced in Klaus Hueneke's book "Kiandra to Kosciusko".
In 1977 the Kosciusko Huts Association celebrated the 50th anniversary of the crossing The celebration took the form of the Kiandra to Kosciusko Memorial Ski Tour in which experienced ski touring parties were encouraged to make a crossing during the winter of 1977 and to record the fact with comments in a special log book held at a lodge in Guthega. A sendoff ceremony was held at Kiandra on 30 July 1977 which was attended by the two then surviving members of the 1927 party. Tea and damper was served to participants and many appeared in period costume, skiing on early wooden skis similar to those which would have been used on the 1927 crossing.
More than 150 ski tourers completed the journey. 1977 was an exceptional snow year and the first party was able to complete a crossing on the June long weekend. Some even completed a crossing then made the return journey on skis. A special endorsed commemorative print and a ceramic medallion were presented to those who completed the crossing.
The year 2002 is of course the 75th anniversary of the crossing and moves are afoot to again celebrate the epic journey undertaken by those five skiers in 1927. Arrangements have yet to be completed, but details should be available shortly.
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